At formation for dinner, when the brigade adjutant
published the orders, every midshipman in the long
ranks of the twelve companies waited eagerly to learn
what had been done in the cases of the eight midshipmen.
They were doomed to disappointment, however.

At brigade formation for supper notice of a meeting
of the first class in Recreation Hall was duly published.
There was rather an unwonted hush over the tables
that night.

Immediately afterwards groups of midshipmen were seen
strolling through the broad foyer of Bancroft Hall,
and up the low steps into Recreation Hall. Yet
it was some ten minutes before there was anything
like a full gathering of the first class.

“Order!” rapped the class president Then,
after glancing around:

“Is Mr. Clairy present?”

He was not.

“Where’s Darry?” buzzed several
voices.

But Dave Darrin was not present either.

“Where is he?” several demanded of Dan.

“Blessed if I know,” Dan answered.
“I wish I did, fellows.”

“Isn’t Darry going to attend?”

“I don’t know that, either.”

Midshipman Gosman now claimed the floor. He
spoke a good deal as though he had been retained as
advocate for the eight accused midshipmen. In
a fiery speech Mr. Gosman recited that eight different
members of the class had been falsely accused by Mr.
Clairy.

“There are not eight liars in our class,”
declared Midshipman Gosman, with very telling effect.

Then, after more fiery words aimed at Clairy, Mr.
Gosman demanded:

“Why is not Mr. Clairy here to speak for himself?
Let him who can answer this! Further, Mr. Clairy
has been challenged to fight by some of those whom
be accused. Now, sir and classmates, a midshipman
may refuse to fight, but if he does he must submit
his case to his class, and then be guided by the class
decision as to whether he must fight or not.
Mr. Clairy has not done this.”

“He’s a cur!” shouted a voice.

“I accept the remark,” bowed Mr. Gosman,
“if I am permitted to express the class’s
apology to all dogs for the comparison.”